. >> reporter: for the first time, republican leader mitch mcconnell described himself as hopeful and optimistic. ptime had a good meeting down at the white house. we are engaged in discussions, the majority leader and myself nd the white house, in the hopes that we can come forward as early as sunday and have a makemendation that i can make to my conference, and the majority leader can make to his conference. r: teporter: the progress came as members on both sides were growing doubtful congress could get anything done before the deadline. .ebraska democrat ben nelson: >> if we don't have a deal within the next 24 hours, the question is, where do you buy a parachute? it looks like we'd be going over we cliff. >> reporter: but leader reid had this warning about the shape of iddeal to come. >> everybody, whatever we come te with is going to be imperfect and some people aren't going to ren' it. some people will like it less, but that's where we are. >> reporter: up until now, reid and mcconnell have kind of been sitting on the sidelines as the ndesident and speaker boehner tried but fail